The Observation Deck

Over a month ago, I stopped up to the main fire station on Madison to request Lakewood's emergency management plan for train derailments. I spoke to the fire marshall, who was very kind. He told me that the county emergency management would likely respond in the event of a train derailment. However, he told me that he would see what he could find at the station about the emergency management plan. I did not hear back. However, I recall that shortly after my visit to the fire station, something came on OneLakewood.com about how the mayor was talking with Sherrod Brown about the tankers coming through Lakewood.

My nephew was in charge of emergency management in one of the southern states for several years. He now works in Homeland Security. He told me that local fire departments would have a copy of the county's emergency management plan at the fire station.

I am concerned because over the past several months, there has been a drastic increase in the amount of toxic, flammable, and otherwise hazardous materials coming through on Lakewood's Norfolk Southern rail line. The fire marshall told me that the maximum amount of hazardous materials allowed by law are brought through Lakewood.

One of the materials I have noticed coming through is crude oil/petroleum. According to NOAA, this is a highly flammable liquid with vapors heavier than air. It will be easily ignited by heat, sparks, or flames. The vapors may form explosive mixtures within the air. The vapors will spread along the ground and will collect in low areas like basements (ERG, 2012). Finally, exposure to these vapors can cause suffocation.

Liquefied petroleum gas has also been seen coming through Lakewood. According to NOAA, this is another highly flammable liquid that is easily ignitable and may form explosive mixtures within the air. The vapors are heavier than air and can spread along the ground and collect in low areas.

Finally, hot asphalt has also been spotted rolling through Lakewood, which according to NOAA, has the same ignitability and explosiveness of the above-mentioned materials. I have seen upwards of 100 tankers per train of hot asphalt coming through next to our homes.

If such hazardous chemicals are coming through our neighborhoods, I think the fire department should have a plan at the station. If God forbid a train ever derails with hazardous materials on it, all hell will break loose. If we don't have a plan at the fire department, we need one.

I also saw some tankers full of Propene coming through Lakewood tonight. Its vapors can travel to a source of ignition and then flash back, not to mention it is highly flammable.

Lori, How do you think some (if not all) of the spent uranium produced at the (approx 24) nuclear power sites east of Ohio and including Ohio will get their DUF6 to Yucca Mountain? I'll give you a hint, they are not going to be putting it in an UBER car and driving it to Nevada. Currently most high level radioactive waste is stored on-site at the plants that produce clean nuclear energy. But that may change. And if it does, there could potentially be, depending on the route, 400 degree F Spent Uranium careening through Lakewood at 40 mph. Fun stuff. Also, if you choose to look into this issue, googling spent uranium or DUF6 transport might put you on the Homeland Security radar.

Uranium being sent to Yucca Mountain is put into Specially built cars/tankers . (Superior fortified cars/tankers). These cars/tankers are put through rigorous testing including simulated crashes,etc. before use. Other tankers/cars that are coming trough Lakewood are paper thin. The railroads were asked to make these cars/tankers stronger, but, due to the expense, the railroads refused. Tankers hauling uranium are allowed to go 25 mph and no faster, not 40 mph.

I am very familiar with the Westerman/Worthington containers that they are shipped and stored in.

Several years ago, Dennis Kucinich worked hard to have the train traffic going through Lakewood decreased dramatically. Several months ago at a Council Meeting, Mayor Summers announced that He and council approved a deal to allow an increase in the amount of trains coming through Lakewood.

That sucks. I liked what Dennis did with diverting the trains south of Lakewood.

Patrick Wadden wrote:That sucks. I liked what Dennis did with diverting the trains south of Lakewood.

I thought that when they went from 2 sets of rails to 1 set it ensured less traffic. I hope an increase is not in the future.

Corey

This topic was sort of covered a year ago:

http://lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewt ... =7&t=12952

Rail traffic is federally regulated. Local municipalities have little to no say in this. This was not 'approved' by the city of Lakewood or any city en route.

Lori

This is not a public record, because it is exempt under article ORC149.433 exempting security and infrastructure records.

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Thanks Jim.

Maybe you could call the Fire Marshall and let him know.